Christmas tree getting decked out (+video)

Candy canes, stars and baubles are some of the colourful decorations Rotorua's Christmas tree in the City Focus is now getting decked out in to celebrate the festive season.

The tree is up in the City Focus and in the process of being decorated.

Rotorua Lakes Council is setting up the $26,000 Christmas tree, which went up for the first time last Christmas, and there will be a special ceremony this Thursday, with the lights to be switched on at 7pm.

Katie Coles and Danni Brake, 1, check out this year's Christmas tree in the old City Focus. Photo/Ben Fraser

People are encouraged to bring along a can of food for the

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Salvation Army Christmas Appeal, which aims to re-stock the organisation's food bank.

There will be music, featuring the Western Heights High School Choir led by Evelyn Falconer, and the Salvation Army Band.

Christmas tree in the old City Focus. Photo/Ben Fraser

The ceremony will coincide with the summer extension of the Rotorua Night Market.

Anna Hayes from Maori Weaving Rotorua has created 16m of harakeke rope and 30 muka ties, from which locally made wooden decorations will hang.

The tree will be decked out in green tinsel to cover its frame with decorations including the wooden decorations.